She Is Dead

Jason watched as Ayane packed her things in a hurry. He was worried about her sudden decision to leave the organization.

"Ayane, why do you suddenly want to leave the organization? What are you planning on doing? You know that you can't just easily leave and… How can you survive a Class Z mission with just you?"

Jason knew quite well what Class Z missions were. It was a mission above Class SSS. Going on a Class Z mission was suicidal! How could he bear to let her leave like this!

Ayane gave a deep sigh while putting the last of her latest gun model in her black bag.

She looked at him with resolute eyes and said, "Even if I tell you the reason, you wouldn't understand. Jason… I know that you care for me. But, no one can change my decision and I will do everything to finish the mission."

Jason Falmore was her colleague and best friend from this organization called the Blood Dragon Palace. This place was a home and training ground for assassins. The assassins here were trained to execute missions and kill.

The both of them were abandoned children who grew up from the same orphanage and were kidnapped by this place at the age of six.

Growing up in this kind of place which she did not consider her home, she loath and hated it. However, she had no choice. If she did not fight, she would not be able to survive here. Thus, both of them fought through the depths of hell to survive in this godforsaken place.

Whether it be her or Jason, they could not count how many lives they had taken. The only thing was that living here for eighteen long years was more than enough.

If she told him the reason was that she wanted to fall in love, get married, have a family, and raise two cats, he would just laugh her. That she, Ayane Gaude, the no.1 agent of this place would think of this reason to leave this place.

Well, it was one of those reasons. The biggest reason was for freedom. She was tired of this life and she did not want to die with any regrets.

She had included marriage because in one of her missions four months ago in Los Angeles, she saw a couple in a secluded area acting lovingly and sweetly in front of her. She was so pissed that she killed the both of them. However, it did not matter much for they were one of her assassination targets.

That was why she decided to take this Class Z mission. She was willing to bet everything for the sake of her freedom, so that was why… She could not fail this mission.

Jason also knew how hard it was to live here. He knew quite well what she was feeling about this place, but he did not want her to go on a mission like that. He also wanted her to be happy, but he could not let her go. The moment he let go, he felt that she was going to truly be gone for good.

"But… Ayane… You know what happened to Darren, right? And also to Fana, Crystal, Lester, and Brie, and to… to…," he mentioned almost everyone that had failed the Class Z mission just to leave this place.

None of them survived and died. Thus, no one ever thought about leaving this place again.

As she already finished preparing for this mission, she had to leave now. Ayane looked at Jason and sensed how worried he was for her.

However, she was already determined to leave, so she hardened her heart and said, "Well, I'm not one of them. I will never fail. I've been training for this my whole life, Jason. No one can stop me… Even if it��s you."

With what she said, Jason's hand slid down from her shoulder as a trace of sadness and disappointment appeared in his eyes.

"Fine," knowing now that even he could not stop her.

With a deep and desolate sigh, he said, "Ayane, when you have succeeded, I wish that you can have what you want and… Just be safe."

Hearing his response, Ayane hugged him for one last time. In this place filled with hatred, malice, darkness, and cruelty, he was the only person who stood by her side without any ill intent. If she could bring him along with, she would. However, the mission could only make her bring herself.

Giving him a tight hug and with a voice of sadness but also determination, Ayane said, "I'm leaving now and… I'm sorry."

After that hug, Jason could only look at her departing figure until she finally left the gates of the building.

If only he could embrace her and never let go. If only he had the ability to persuade her to not leave. However, her decision was final, and not even he could make her stay.

When he had gotten back from his mission a week ago, he found out that she had stormed to the Higher Up Elders' office, requesting to leave the organization. At that time, everyone thought that she had lost her mind.

Even the Higher Elders were adamant about making her not leave and executing the mission, but the Class Z mission was a type of mission that did not require the permission of the Higher Elders to execute.

It was up to the agent whether they wanted to complete a mission like this or not. If they did successfully complete the mission, they would get their wish granted. That was why for them, the Class Z mission was a ticket to leave this place. But, they also knew what type of mission was behind the name.

Everyone knew that you could not leave the place. It was you either stay here or die here. No one had ever been able to leave from here, but there was a legend from the place that there was one who had successfully executed the mission. However, that was twenty-five years ago before he or Ayane had arrived at this place.

Jason looked gloomily at the dark sky with just a few stars shining, silently wishing for her success and safety.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A WEEK LATER INSIDE THE 4TH CAFETERIA AT THE 18TH FLOOR

Everyone was busy chatting while eating. They had heard that Ayane Gaude, their top agent just executed a Class Z mission. Thus, Ayane became the center of attention and quietly shook the other members of the Blood Dragon Palace.

Everyone thought that she was insane from choosing to do a suicidal mission like that.

"Jason! What's the news on your best friend? Did she survive?"

"No one can leave this place. That is our fate when we entered this place."

"But she is the no.1 agent! She might achieve it! That girl was never ordinary!"

"Hpmh! Who knows if she will survive or not!"

"Have you forgotten that she has successfully executed a Class SSS mission three times?"

"But that was a Class SSS mission… Not a Class Z mission. There is a big difference."

"But she also has never failed a mission and has executed all of them perfectly!"

Jason who was on the other side was eating quietly, but hearing them talk like she was dead, made him tightly grip his spoon and shout in anger, "Will all of you shut up and just eat!? Or do you need me to sew all your mouths in order to make you shut up!?"

He could not stand these fools! Badmouthing her when he was here. It was already a week since she left the organization and no one knew if she survived or not. They still had not found any news about her well-being. Even the Higher Elders were busy trying to find her whereabouts.

"Dude. Calm down. Ayane is strong. That girl is like the daughter of a devil so stop worrying about her. She's going to get through this," Saimon said, trying to calm Jason down.

Jason knew very well how strong she was, but he still could not stop worrying about her.

"I can't believe our leader left us. It's going to be so boring without her here now," Daniel said while playing with his food in a bored manner.

Aside from him, Saimon and Daniel were also close to Ayane. When it came to group missions, they were the ones that always accompanied her as she showed her skills as a leader.

Everything was lax until they heard a loud bang from the entrance.

"Guys! Guys! Big news," Ben the gossip guy ran in with a flushed face while yelling.

Everyone looked at him and when they saw his flustered face, they knew he had some big news for them.

"What is it," an agent asked.

"It's Ayane! Our no.1 agent! I just got the news from the higher-ups! She's dead! She didn't survive," Ben announced.

After his announcement, the place fell into a deep silence, and Jason's world slowly shattered along with it.

"I told you no one could leave this place."

"So… Not even our top agent could accomplish this mission."

"If even she didn't have a chance… So do we."